Hi everyone!

I am starting my internship with Instituto Hemingway on Monday! I have been searching for information on this company for months and nothing came up and now theres this forum! I considered so many options but with the unemployment rate in Spain being very high I thought there was no way a foreign student will find a job this summer easily! I am British so luckily I dont need a visa but it is still difficult to find anything! So I have gone ahead and paid them the money and have gotten a placement…

I’m going to the coast to work in a hotel for 2 months. I dont want to get into too much information about my experiences with the company just now as this may be used against me since this information is obviously publicly accessible!
But dont worry I will let u all know how I get on at the hotel when im there…hopefully my job wont consist of being bossed around by other employees and cleaning floors etc. And once my internship is over I will write a long review on the institute!!

Can I ask you jessicamh what it said on your contract your job responsibilities are? And what kind of accommodation are you living in? I hope I have a room in the hotel and not somewhere else!
Thanks!

I am going to acknowledge the elephant in the room, and point out that Chema seems to work for Instituto Hemingway.. or have some sort of connection that makes her opinion biased. Otherwise she would surely have some sympathy for unhappy participants, and be able to point out both the good and bad of the program, not just emphasize how GREAT it is.

Anyway, I’ll look forward to hearing xkrissax’s review so we have a couple of unbiased opinions.

jessicamh, have you thought about getting a car? Or is that not financially possible? Might be worth the expense to improve your transportation situation! Doesn’t sound like public transit is working too well.  I guess the hotel doesn’t offer any kind of shuttle, huh?

Hello Everyone,

I’ll address Krissa’s and then Sally’s messages =) 

Krissa:
I have been at my hotel in Madrid for 3 weeks now, and will work/live here until the end of August.  For the first week, I was disappointed because Instituto Hemingway told me I would be in easy access to the center of Madrid- which was far from the truth as I am in a hotel off of the highway which has difficult access to the bus and other transportation.  To get to the bus stop, I have to cross a high-volume traffic circle that does not have a pedestrian crosswalk and has many trucks.  I often find myself having to take a taxi because the bus never comes, and it costs around 10-15 Euros which certainly adds up (especially since the US Dollar is so weak). 
Is this the fault of Instituto Hemingway? They were, indeed, deceiving about the location of the hotel.  I talked to my coworkers and decided to stay, because when I complained to the Instituto they told me the only spot they could offer me would be in the Pais Vasco- which I heard is beautiful but I am a city person and prefer Madrid.  The work has gotten better, mainly because I’ve gotten to know my co-workers and feel like I could be more vocal about my preferences.  I’ve also made some friends in the city which makes things so much easier, and gives me something to look forward to when not working!  I just find it interesting how Instituto Hemingway boasted about their contacts throughout Spain, but when I asked to me moved to a different location, I only had ONE option which was completely in a different part of the country in a small village of 100 inhabitants (as I said, I’m a city person).  I also felt like they were trying to solve the problem quickly only to get rid of me- they said I was only allowed to have one switch and was being forceful with sending me to the Basque region.

I agree Krissa, I couldn’t find any information on this company when I was in the registration process.  I wish I did, but now I know I could be of help to people like yourself.  Don’t worry about complaining about the Instituto, the Hotel can’t use it against you because they’re two separate entities.  My hotel has its own opinion of the Instituto, put it that way =)

So, how did your first week go? What kind of work will you be doing?  I’m in a room in the hotel and I eat from the hotel’s restaurant which isn’t the greatest- but it’s free.  Let’s just say I’ve lost a lot of weight- haha.  My contract did say that I would be a waitress, so I knew I would be working in the restaurant.  My first week was a little shocking because as a college grad who is bilingual I was surprised at how I was treated, but after almost a month here I’ve established myself and my responsibilities are more challenging and some nights I run the entire restaurant by myself (this includes serving the food, taking orders, cleaning the restaurant, and also all of the billing/transactions).  I’m just happy to have the international experience because when I return home to the US I’ll look for jobs within international companies and it will certainly help.  Any other questions, just ask!

Sally:
I agree- it is evident that Chema works for the Instituo.  To each his/her own… but I am just a recent grad who used the Instituo as a way to find an economical way to live in Spain for the summer.  Another former employee of the hotel complained to the Instituto about our hotel’s location, but they didn’t seem to acknowledge his complaints and continued sending students here, telling them they were near the center of Madrid.  Like I told Krissa, if you have any other questions- just ask =)

-Jessica

Hey Sally,

I missed the last part of your post.  I have thought about getting a car, but I’m not quite sure how licenses work around here.  I have a license and car in the US, but it seems like EVERY car I’ve seen here is manual transmission (which I don’t know how to use).  I’m not sure if it’ll be worth the expenses to get a car and pay for the license and insurance.  Also, drivers in Spain, from what I’ve seen, are CRAZY.  There are so many different things (like the numerous traffic circles and a million tunnels) that aren’t in the US.  If there was a closer metro or bus stop that didn’t require crossing that treacherous highway, I would be soooo much happier! 

I’ve straightened out some of my issues with the work- I no longer have to wash dishes or clean the kitchen, I just take care of the dining area.  I also like talking to the clients because most of them are here on business and apparently bilinguals (English/Spanish) are a rare find in Spain and many are quick to ask for my CV- so this may actually help with networking.

Again, I can’t compare the Instituto and the Hotel because they are two completely separate companies.  It’s just that when I complained I was told that the only place I could transfer to was in Pais Vasco and that was the only switch I was allowed.  They even offered to pay my train ticket- which may seem like a nice gesture but I seriously think they just wanted to shut me up and not deal with me anymore. 

I also reread Chema’s post and noticed that, according to her, people who complain have “emotional problems”.  OUCH…

-Jessica

This is Chema again. I wish I could work for Instituto Hemingway…. Unfortunately I am broke and looking for a new job in the international field. Think about ourselves for a sec. Would you have worked in Spain if it not had been for this company? The answer in most of cases is NO. I have also found out that according to my previous jobs many people dedicate a big chunk of their scarce time to criticize the company they were working for, which I hate it. Some times is like a kind of sport…  Why instead of doing that just do things on your own?? If it was the case you would probably be in your home country yet or would have squandered tons of money in funding your time in Spain. This is what I was trying to explain. At least one voice in the desert to defend the good name of a company. By the way, I was in the Basque Country and I loved it. At least there is not massive tourism and people speak Spanish very clearly, not like in Barcelona or in Andalusia.

Hi Jess!  I really appreciate you coming on here and sharing your experience.  I am not shocked about the type of work you were initially expected to do and the way your co-workers acted, but I am surprised about your inconvenient and dangerous location.  Did they tell you the name of your hotel before you left?  (i.e., Would I have the ability to look it up and figure out where exactly it is before agreeing to go there?)  Did you get the impression that you’re in the only hotel they have a connection with “in Madrid”?  Thanks!

Chema, obviously the reasons you stated are why any of us are considering (or have enrolled in) Instituto Hemingway’s program. Yes, it is a cheaper option to come to Spain. But the question some of us have is, what is the tradeoff?

Yes, it may offer a good service. But what is good, and rewarding program for one person, may be a terrible for another, especially when each individual is placed in different working situations.  I appreciate that you offered your experience, I just thought it was kind of rude that you would criticize someone else for sharing theirs.  Apparently you didn’t have the same problems she did, and it’s good to hear that. But if Instituto Hemingway was misleading about what one person’s job location and/or situation was going to be, then that is a bit unethical on the part of the company.  It would be valuable to know if Jess’ experience is an anomaly. But it seems pretty clear that she was put in a less than ideal situation, and felt kind of duped. I don’t see how you can blame that on the participant.

And, I didn’t say that you necessarily work for the company. But any person who has had ANY job has both good and bad things to say about their employer. It doesn’t make sense that you would only say ultra-positive things if you worked in a place for several months. Surely, there was some things to watch out for that you could share with others, while at the same time still recommending the program.  My suspicion is that you have some kind of loyalty the program, perhaps being close with the director, who you say is such a great guy..

——

On a second note; Jess, yeah the car thing does sound a bit complicated. From what I’ve read you can get an “international drivers license” which seems pretty easy.  But I’m not sure if you had to do it in your home country.  Also, you can get automatic transmission cars in Spain, they’re just not popular for some reason.  You’d probably have to pay more for it, but I guess that’s always the case!
Also, glad to hear that your work situation is improving!

Hey Everyone, and thanks for your replies!

Megan: They did tell me the name of the Hotel before I began.  However, I looked at the map provided by the hotel’s site which of course makes it look very close to the center of Madrid as an appealing feature of the hotel.  I also kind of took the Instituto’s word for it when they said it was in easy access.  To me, easy access isn’t having to walk along and cross a high-traffic highway, as well as wait for a bus that hardly shows up! 

What I should’ve done was use Google Maps because it shows actual photos of the location.  I got the impression that this was the closest hotel to Madrid, because when I asked if I could please go to a different location within Madrid, I was told the ONLY other choice would be for me to go to Pais Vasco because there were no other locations available.  I was convinced that the 100 Euro placement fee would mean they would try a little harder to find contacts!

Sally: I talked to some of my co-workers, and they told me that as a tourist I could use my license from the US for up to 30 days.  I looked up cars to rent but they were 800-1000 Euros per month (I might as well take a taxi everytime I need to go somewhere, because I think it would turn out cheaper!) 

The work situation is getting better… I worked a little bit extra and got some time off to get away to Amsterdam for a few days.  I have less than 4 weeks left of my program… Krissa how is yours going?!

-Jessica

Hi there!

I understand your feelings but for example Instituto Hemingway does not recommend to travel around Europe while working and Jess is doing that. I carefully read all the FAQs they sent me.  Most of people, including me, didn?t have a clue about Spain (just some stereotypes, movies and that it is it) and now I know that Spain is divided in 17 regions with lots of competences, that there is a Socialist government in the power, that there are Nationalist parties in Catalu?a area that have forbidden teaching in Spanish in any Primary or Secondary School of Barcelona etc. Spanish people are lively and proud of their culture. Try to get involved with them!! Do not be mixed with other expats 😊 I sent my girlfriend to study with Instituto Hemingway and she loved that!! They are honest and trusworthy. When you say they didn?t have hotels to place you inmediately, and above all in cities. They need interns in villages but students like me don?t want to go there. Hope that this things I am telling you are reasonable. I am just trying to explain how it sounds everything.

Hi everyone!
Sorry that I haven’t been on this for a while! My emails didnt alert me that there were new posts!

I have now left my placement in Spain with Instituto Hemingway so this is my experience with them in Spain.
So I got to my placement in Barcelona - the hotel was in the resort of Santa Susanna. And first of all I arrived around half ten at night to find that the Instituto had told the hotel I would be arriving at 10 o’clock that morning! It wasnt a big problem but it meant that the hotel thought I wasn’t coming to work there and so my room in my apartment had been taken by another worker.
My apartment was a 10 minute drive away from the hotel I was working in. And I was driven everyday by one of my co-workers.
I shared an apartment with 2 other male co-workers which at first made me feel a little uncomfortable but for the short time I knew them they were pleasant enough but I still don’t agree with the situation that they put me in.

My job within the hotel was a waitress in the restaurant. My job was to clear the plates of the clients, set the tables, clean the floors and do other jobs the other waiters didnt want to do. The job was ok however sometimes they made me feel as if I was stupid because I wasnt collecting the plates the right way or not sweeping the correct way!! Also I was not allowed to talk to the clients which sometimes made me feel stupid but at other times the clients were very rude to me anyway!
Also there were no other girls working in the restaurant, there were 2 older chefs that were women (one of them threw a fit in my direction one day because I was to have breakfast in the hotel since obviously my food was provided for me but she didnt agree with this) but the rest were all men which meant for the time I was there I felt slightly lonely, the men were nice and always talked to me etc but I had no friends or family and there were no opportunities to make friends.

Onto my shifts….I worked 10 hours a day. I was picked up at half 7 in the morning from my apartment, worked until half 12. Then at night I was picked up at 6 and finished at half 12! For the time I was there I worked out I would be working at least 5 days a week. Which would mean ridiculous working hours. I hardly slept because I only had around 6 or 7 hours between my shift and night and my shift in the morning.
These shifts and the amount of work I was doing was not worth the 200 euros I was paid a month with also taking into consideration that I paid the Instituto 500 euros to work there!!
I couldn’t stay there for longer than 5 days, one of my flatmates informed me that before I arrived there was another girl intern that also only lasted a few days and that there would be another girl straight after I left. Surely this should indicate that something is wrong.
So I left the hotel without consulting the Instituto, there was no point, when I applied for this internship they offered me 3 different hotels, one didnt need staff, the next wasnt easily accessible for me, the next didnt need any staff yet again and then finally they gave me the placement in Barcelona. They told me that usually they only offer interns 3 hotels and that they were being extra nice to me by offering me the one in Barcelona. Because of this I didnt see the point in contacting them, what were they going to do? they wouldnt give me another placement oppotunity and there was little else they could do! I now wonder what services I received for my 500 euros. I will also now not get a refund although I will pursue it.
All in all, Im glad I undertook this oppotunity, I learnt alot about work in Spain and it opened my eyes to the cons of these sorts of programmes. It also means I can advise people on here on what to expect. If I hadnt of done this placement then I wouldve regretted not doing it.

So after I left the hotel I made my way down to Alicante where my friends are working for a stag and hen company and in bars in Benidorm. I am still here although I am leaving this week to return home. I could try to find work here in Alicante but my friends are leaving soon and it is too dangerous here to live by myself.
I feel like I have failed and that my friends and family back home will be disappointed that I didnt last 2 months in the hotel but I just couldn’t work and live there any longer than I did.
There is always next year to try working in Spain again, and luckily for me for my forth year of university I will be studying in Spain! I can’t wait!

Jessica - you’re so brave to be staying there yourself! I couldnt handle it! But that is good you have made friends and that you have been given time off to explore! What kind of shifts do you work there? That is also good news that they have moved you up to a position running the restaurant! There was absolutely no opportunity for promotion in the hotel I was in!

Anyway, sorry for this very long post but there you have it, please feel free to ask questions!

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Hi airedale!
Thats such a shame the position you were in with the accomodation! Mine wasn’t that bad but I couldn’t have stayed there for 2 months!!
And also I find it shocking how unhelpful and how bad an attitude the Instituto had with you! I can’t imagine how frightening it must have been to be stuck in Madrid by yourself with nobody to help you! Im glad you are home safe now!
There was no other interns in the hotel I worked in so I know how you felt!
I also found it strange how the Instituto had limited contacts for placements… that job at the riding centre sounds very strange!! Especially with no experience! What if you didnt want to work with horses?!

I am going to offer the Instituto the chance to give me a refund first, I am going to email them soon and ask for a refund but if they refuse - which I expect they will - then I will take it further.
There is no way I should pay 400 euros for nothing. I did not receive the emergency contact number they offered, or any sort of orientation on arrival etc so they have not provided me with the services they promised.

Airdale - did the hotel ever mention anything about paying you? My hotel certainly did not mention it to me once! Even if it was cash in hand - which I expect it would be because they didnt take my bank details - I would think that the hotel would at least have mentioned when they were going to pay me but they didnt! Very weird!

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Hi xkrissax

Have you thought about working for a british tour operator out here in Spain? In 2005 I worked for canvas holidays in a campsite in the costa brava and it was great fun and you don’t have to pay any fees to work there. They pay just under ?500 a month and you live in a tent! However it’s not bad living in a tent when you’re in the sun!!! The job itself is hard work but there are loads of young people and you make lots of new friends, both british and spaniards. I would recommend it if you’re looking for something for next summer. They also pay your flight to Spain too. Yes it’s hard work, yes it’s rubbish money, but you’re not out of pocket paying someone to look for a job. If you’re interested start applying now, or in September to make sure you get a place!

I also did the british council language assistant position and that’s another programme which you don’t have to pay to be on. You get around ?630 a month for 12 hours work a week and you can do private classes in your spare time to make some more cash. If you want to do that also you’d need to start applying around about now. I did it after graduating from uni.

From what I’ve seen, don’t pay any company to get you a job in Spain! Best thing is to get here and start looking and there are jobs sites such as http://www.turijobs.com which advertise jobs in tourism/

Good luck!!